July 28, 2012 (Val d’Isère, France) – Overnight rain has made for a slippery course as the final round of the UCI MTB WCup XC#7 is underway in Val d’Isère. Canada’s Catharine Pendrel (Luna) has already locked up the World Cup series overall and faces Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Vallandry Peisey and Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team in this final battle before London 2012. Also racing for Canada are Emily Batty (Subaru-Trek) and Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain). The women will complete 5 laps…

Lap 1
Dahle Flesjaa is off to a good start with Luna riders Georgia Gould (USA) and Katerina Nash (Cze) up there as well including Annie Last (Gbr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team. Batty is in the top ten followed by Premont and then Pendrel around 15th.

Riders are off the bike on the uphill and slipping on the rocks on the downhills…

Dahle Flesjaa continues at the front as Nash is second as Bresset moves up – Batty is in 7th… Pendrel did not have good start and is trying to move up.

Lap 2
Dahle Flesjaa comes thru in 17:51 followed by Gould on her wheel with Nash in 3rd followed by Bresset in 4th with Last in 5th and Batty now in 6th at 23s  at 7s… Pendrel is now 11th.

Bresset takes over the lead as the 5 in front are setting the pace… Sabine Spitz (Ger) the defending Olympic champ is in 7th – now she passes Batty.

Dahle Flesjaa is not letting Bresset get away… Spitz has trouble on a downhill section and now Batty reclaims 6th.

Pendrel is now 9th as Dahle Flesjaa takes over the lead again as the 5 leaders have a gap over the chasers.

Lap 3
Dahle Flesjaa has gapped the field and is thru in 36:14 followed by Bresset at 22s followed by Gould in 3rd at 28s – then it’s Nash at 31s with Last in 5th at 35s with Batty at 51s in 6th.

Spitz is in 7th at 1:22 with Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team in 8th at 1:46 and then the world champ Pendrel in 9th at 2:02… the course is drying out but is still quite slippery in many sections.

Nash drops back into 5th…

If Dahle Flesjaa wins today she’ll match Julie Furtado’s record of 28 WCup wins and she’s after a final podium spot in the overall standings – she won her first WCup in Norway in 1996.

Gould struggles on a downhill and Nash takes over 4th – Dahle Flesjaa is extending her lead now 34s over Bresset.

Nash suffers a mechanical (flat) and now Batty is 5th…and Last is now 3rd having a great race for the British rider before the Games.

Gould is now in the tech area as well and Batty takes over 4th – not a great day for the Luna riders.

Lap 4
Dahle Flesjaa has increased her lead now 37s over Bresset with Last in third at 49s.

Batty is 4th at 1:04 being chased by Gould in 5th at 1:11… then it’s Nash in 6th at 1:42, Spitz is 7th at 2:01 followed by Osl in 8th at 2:22 with Pendrel in 9th.

If Last can hold on it’ll be her best WCup – Batty is extending her lead over Gould.

Dahle Flesjaa is off the bike on a slippery downhill section but is quickly back on the bike… Bresset is looking smooth and might challenge if she thinks Dahle Flesjaa is faltering… up the switchback climb she can see her.

Lap 5 FINAL
Despite her minor falter Dahle Flesjaa comes thru to start her last lap with 33s on Bresset in second. Last looks comfortable in 3rd at 55s and then it’s Canada’s Batty in 4th at 1:19… then it’s Gould at 1:49.

Dahle Flesjaa and Batty are on 29ers… the others in the top 5 are on 26″ bikes – the rain is back.

Dahle Flesjaa will end up in 2nd overall if she wins today… she’s thru the tough downhill section smoothly. Bresset is at 49s now as the Norwegian pulls away – Bresset will take 4th overall.

The heaven’s have opened and it’s pouring rain for the finish.

Up the switchback climb the leader Dahle Flesjaa is looking smooth…Batty is having a great pre-Olympic race as is Last.

Results

Result
1. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 1:32:07
2. Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 0:46
3. Annie Last* (Gbr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team 1:09
4. Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek 1:34
5. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 2:26
6. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 3:13
7. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team 3:33
8. Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler-Ixs Team 4:05
9. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 4:48
10. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 5:06
11. Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 5:22
12. Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 6:34
13. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 7:06
14. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) 7:19
15. Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls 7:54
16. Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice 8:01
17. Vera Andreeva (Rus) Team Protek 8:02
18. Sarah Koba (Sui) 8:44
19. Silke Schmidt (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 8:49
20. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.Ch Craft 8:50
21. Karen Hanlen (Nzl) 9:17
22. Hanna Klein (Ger) 9:47
23. Mary Mcconneloug (USA) 10:07
24. Rosara Joseph (Nzl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 10:23
25. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges 11:38
26. Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 12:23
27. Githa Michiels (Bel) Trek-KMC Trade Team 12:43
28. Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 13:38
29. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 13:58
30. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol 14:09
31. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 14:34
32. Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus Mig Team 15:02
33. Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura 16:39
34. Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 17:50
35. Anna Villar Argente (Esp) 18:11
36. Helene Marcouyre (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry -1 lap
37. Lee Craigie (Gbr) -1 lap
38. Annika Langvad (Den) Team Fujibikes Rockets -1 lap
39. Sabrina Maurer (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team -1 lap
40. Serrano Rodriguez (Ecu) -1 lap
41. Nicoletta De Jager (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team -1 lap
42. Franziska Brun (Sui) -1 lap
43. Mercedes Pacios Pujado (Esp) -1 lap
44. Anne Terpstra* (Ned) -1 lap
45. Lucie Vesela (Cze) GT Bicycles Opportunity -2 laps
46. Corina Gantenbein (Sui) Fischer-BMC -2 laps
47. Maxine Filby (Gbr) -2 laps
48. Maaris Meier (Est) -2 laps
49. Kristien Nelen (Bel) Houffalize-Granville Team -2 laps
50. Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) -2 laps
51. Stephania Magri (Mlt) -3 laps
52. Nirjala Tamrakar (Nep) -3 laps
DNF Eva Lechner (Ita)
DNF Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui)

Final World Cup Standings

1. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 1,290
2. Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (Nor) Multivan Merida Biking Team 1,048
3. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 954
4. Julie Bresset (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 950
5. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 893
6. Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek 885
7. Annie Last* (Gbr) Milka Brentjens MTB Racing Team 702
8. Marie-Helene Premont (Can) Rocky Mountain 694
9. Maja Wloszczowska (Pol) CCC Polkowice 670
10. Irina Kalentieva (Rus) Topeak Ergon Racing Team 645
11. Elisabeth Osl (Aut) Ghost Factory Racing Team 588
12. Katrin Leumann (Sui) Ghost Factory Racing Team 542
13. Lea Davison (USA) Specialized Racing 512
14. Sabine Spitz (Ger) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 479
15. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 450
16. Esther Süss (Sui) Wheeler-Ixs Team 442
17. Lucie Chainel-Lefevre (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 420
18. Alexandra Engen (Swe) Ghost Factory Racing Team 397
19. Mary Mcconneloug (USA) 375
20. Pauline Ferrand Prevot* (Fra) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 374
21. Tanja Zakelj (Slo) Salcano Factory Team 361
22. Sabrina Enaux (Fra) Specialized Solodet Vosges 352
23. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 319
24. Adelheid Morath (Ger) Felt Oetztal X-Bionic Team 315
25. Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru-Trek 311
26. Karen Hanlen (Nzl) 298
27. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 295
28. Annika Langvad (Den) Team Fujibikes Rockets 292
29. Marielle Saner-Guinchard (Sui) Bikepark.Ch Craft 275
30. Tereza Hurikova (Cze) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 271
31. Aleksandra Dawidowicz (Pol) CCC Polkowice 270
32. Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 256
33. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol 253
34. Magdalena Sadlecka (Pol) CCC Polkowice 246
35. Kathrin Stirnemann (Sui) Sabine Spitz Haibike Team 245
36. Rosara Joseph (Nzl) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 240
37. Anne Terpstra* (Ned) 239
38. Cécile Ravanel (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 233
39. Vera Andreeva (Rus) Team Protek 198
40. Fanny Bourdon (Fra) GT Skoda Chamonix 197
41. Julie Krasniak (Fra) Focus Mig Team 197
42. Sarah Koba (Sui) 180
43. Hanna Klein (Ger) 180
44. Silke Schmidt (Ger) Notebooksbilliger.De Team 171
45. Jean Ann Berkenpas (Can) Xprezo-Borsao 164
46. Nataliya Krompets (Ukr) Isd MTB Team 153
47. Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Team Crampfix Nakamura 151
48. Anja Gradl (Ger) Team Bulls 146
49. Lene Byberg (Nor) GT Skoda Chamonix 142
50. Sandra Walter (Can) Xprezo-Borsao 136
51. Laura Metzler (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 134
52. Laura Turpijn (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team 125
53. Anna Szafraniec (Pol) CCC Polkowice 120
54. Mikaela Kofman (Can) Scott-3Roxracing 118
55. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 118
56. Rie Katayama (Jpn) 114
57. Qinglan Shi (Chn) 105
58. Githa Michiels (Bel) Trek-KMC Trade Team 99
59. Katherine O’shea (Aus) 98
60. Heidi Sandsto Rosaasen (Nor) Team United Bakeries 93
61. Judy Freeman (USA) 91
62. Corina Gantenbein (Sui) Fischer-BMC 85
63. Erin Huck (USA) 84
64. Agustina Maria Apaza (Arg) 84
65. Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Pol) 84
66. Lee Craigie (Gbr) 82
67. Aleksandra Mooradian (Pol) 82
68. Noelia Rodriguez (Arg) 81
69. Adriana Rojas (CRc) 76
70. Maxine Filby (Gbr) 76
71. Anna Villar Argente (Esp) 60
72. Alexandra Gabriela Serrano Rodriguez (Ecu) 60
73. Sarah Kaufmann (USA) 60
74. Caroline Mani (Fra) 55
75. Katherine Herrera (CRc) 52
76. Katherine Compton (USA) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team 51
77. Rowena Fry (Aus) 51
78. Cindy Montambault (Can) 48
79. Laura Lorenza Morfin Macouzet (Mex) 46
80. Mandy Dreyer (Can) 46
81. Daniela Campuzano (Mex) 42
82. Nicoletta De Jager (Ned) MPL Specialized MTB Team 42
83. Amy Dombroski (USA) 38
84. Pavla Havlikova (Cze) 38
85. Chloe Woodruff (USA) 36
86. Samantha Sanders (RSA) 36
87. Franziska Brun (Sui) 35
88. Lucie Vesela (Cze) GT Bicycles Opportunity 35
89. Helene Marcouyre (Fra) BH-SR Suntour-Peisey Vallandry 34
90. Asa Maria Erlandsson (Swe) 31
91. Jenni King (Aus) 31
92. Sabrina Maurer (Sui) Bskgraf Rollmat-Koba MTB Team 29
93. Caroline Villeneuve (Can) 29
94. Nina Baum (USA) 27
95. Bryna Blanchard (USA) 26
96. Mercedes Pacios Pujado (Esp) 25
97. Sally Gabriel (Gbr) 23
98. Maaris Meier (Est) 20
99. Ivonne Kraft (Ger) 20
100. Kristien Nelen (Bel) Houffalize-Granville Team 19
101. Stephania Magri (Mlt) 17
102. Nirjala Tamrakar (Nep) 16
103. Willow Rockwell (USA) Trek World Racing 14
104. Jodie Willett (Aus) 13
105. Pavlina Sulcova (Cze) Merida Biking Team 10
106. Catherine Vipond (Can) 9
107. Julia Colvin (RSA) 9
108. Judith Pollinger (Ita) Hard Rock Canossa Merida 8
109. Jane Nussli (Gbr) Fischer-BMC 8
110. Melanie Palframan (RSA) 8

*U23